03/12/2009: American Bar Association: The RLUIPA Reader: Religious Land Uses, Zoning, and the Courts.”

Although inconsistencies continue to abound in this area of law, a pattern has emerged from the dozens of cases that have made their way to the court system. This is the general rule that in an area of law with few—if any—established practical rules, courts are aware of the equities in cases brought before them and tend to steer the results accordingly. When a church attempts in good faith to resolve legitimate municipal interests in its effort to build a place of worship, its claims are generally favored, especially when such attempts are unreasonably rebuffed by the municipality.